Combined control head and snuffer



June 1 1926.

P. ARBON COMBINED CONTROL HEAD AND SNUFFER Filed March :5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 atbozwaq June 1, 1926. 1,586,956

P. ARBON COMBINED CONTROL HEAD AND SNUFFER Filed March 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I 4 6 gwoe'ntot (1H0: nu:

June 1,1926 1,586,956

P. ARBON I COMBINED CONTROL HEAD AND SNUFFER Filed March 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5913/ Qaaw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

PAUL ARBON, or TULSA, oKLAnoMA.

C YOMBINED CONTROL HEAD AND SNUFFER.

Application filed March 3, 1924. Serial No. 696,573.

The present invention relates to a combined smaller and control casing head for oil and gas wells.

The main object resides in providing an arrangement combining in a single construction all of the advantages of a casing control head and a steam snufler.

More specifically the invention includes a tubular body having a control head assembled near the top including a pair of lateral discharge passages and the vertical passage and a single floating valve controlling each passage selectively, together with a snuffer arrangement near the lower end of the casing for permitting the admission of steam or the like for control purposes.

Other features and advantages will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying specification and claims forming a part of this specification.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, along the line of the axis of the lateral discharge members shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional v1ew taken transversely through the intermediate portion of the valve,

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through th snufler, and I a Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the valve.

Referring now to the specific construction involved, a cylindrical tubular body is provided with radial discharge passages 1 and 2 havin a common longitudinal axis. For controlling the flow through the tubular body and the discharge passages 1 and 2, a rotary valve is utilized. This valve, shown in detail in Fig. 6, includes the bearmg portions 3 and 4, the intermediate body portion 5, stem 6 andinner bearing 7 The 1nner portion of the tubular body adjacent the lateral passages 1 and 2 are enlarged to form bearing surfaces 8 and 9 for the bearings 3 and 4. Circular passages 10 and 11 are -formed in the bearing surfaces 8 and 9 and communicate with the interior of the tubular body and with the chambers 12 and 14 formed by the spacing of the end walls of the bearin s 3 and 4 from the adjacent wall 15 of theody and the inner wall 16 of the flange plate, by meanaof transverse passages 17 and 18. These circular passages 10 and 11 and the chambers 12 and 14 accommodate portions of such fluid as may be passing through the body and" thereby permit a balancing of the valve to facilitate convenient manipulation. The intermediate or body portion 5 of the valve which forms the control member for the fluid is formed by cutting away the valve body from a point spaced outwardly from the wall of the vertical passage through the wall of the body, thereby merely leaving an .ofl-set control portion. Due to the fact that this control portion 5 is formed from a portion of the valve body spaced from the central axis thereof, the

diameter is necessarily less than the diameter of the main body. In addition to this, the outer face of this intermediate portion is reduced at 19.

To provide for the assemblingof the valve in its seat, the'bearing 4 extends entirely through the wall of the casing, and adjacent this wall opening is the annular groove 20 in which seats the flange 21 of the flange plate 22. The flange plate 22 is formed with a central passage 23 for the valve stem and is held in position by the stud bolts 24 and nut 25 which project from the wall of the casingand extend'through suitable openings in the flange plate. Adjacent the central passage 23 of the flange plate 22, an annular groove 26 is formed for the reception of packing 27, the latter being compressed and eld in place by the flange plate 28. The plate 28 is provided with a central opening 29 through which the valve stem passes and annular flange 30 adjacent the central opening 29. The flange 30 is of such dimension to permit its neat movement adjacent the packing 27 within the packing groove 26 of thelarge flange plate 22.

Formed ad acentthe central opening 29 of the smaller flange plate 28 is the annular hub portion 31 and the hub portion is formed with radial openings 32 which are adapted to register with similar openings 33 formed in the valve stem and when in such registered position, receive a suitable key for locking the parts against relative movement. A series of stud bolts 34 carried by the larger flange plate 22 project through suitably arranged openings in the smaller flange plate and by means of nut 35 hold the latter plate in ppsition. The annular surface between the ody and the larger plate 22 outwardly of the flange is provided with suitable packing dual control heretofore unknown in the art..

This snuffer construction comprises two oppositely arranged semi-circular passages 40 and 41. These passages gradually decrease in width from their centers to their extremities at which points they substantially meet in so far as flow therethrough is concerned. The passages 40 and 41 are inclined downwardly and communicate at their outer ends with chambers 42 and 43 respectively. The chambers 42 and 43 extend a distance equal to the diameter of the central passage, thereby furnishing a full flow of steam at all points. The outer walls 44 of the chambers 42 and 43 gradually converge to form suitable tapped openings 45 and 46 for connection with feed pipe tubing. For the purpose of convenience, it will be noted that .ametrically opposite to the radial the openings and 46 radiate at points didischarge openings 1 and 2.

The upper and lower inner ends of the casing body are threaded and as is usual and in addition the conventional seat and packing are provided at the upper end with set screws therefor. o,

In practice, the construction and arrangement above outlined is made in both cast steel and semi-steel, which permits a testing better than three thousand pounds to the sguare inch, thereby enabling the control a well of any size or rock pressure. By means of the floating valve, with a double bearing, the friction usually present, due to rock pressure, is eliminated, and the valve may be turned and controlled at all times. To one skilled in the art it wil1-be obvious that the flow from the well may be directed through either the vertical passage, or one or both, of the lateral passages. In addition to this, by turning the valve to its lowermost position, communication with the well may be entirely discontinued, except through the snuffer connections.

The flow of steam through the snufi'er discharge openings is di-rected downwardly due to the inclined wall 44, and this flow, it will be noted, is on the same horizontal plane at all points. The arrangementsof the snufier discharge opening in this manner provides for an unbroken wall of steam and produces a better extinguishing result than in instances where the steam discharge openlngs are staggered.

An examination of the various parts comprising the subject matter of the present invention, will disclose the fact that cheapness and convenience in manufacture'have been facilitated to a large extent, and at the same time, a construction is provided, the parts of which may be interchanged and new parts substituted when desired. Also, in assemblingthe various parts for use, the construction is such that possibility of leakage is substantially eliminated, there being but two packed connections, both of which are flanged and capable of take-up through suitable stud bolt arrangements.

For the purpose of regulating the flow through the lateral discharge openings 1 and 2, I have shown applied thereto the nipple and bean, the lateral having the usual reducing port. Attention is also called to the fact that in instances it may prove advisable to form the control valve and snufi'er in separate sections having suitable engaging threads, and this arrangement will result in substantially a unitary construction.

What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Leters Patent is 1. In a combined snufi'er and controlcas ing head for oil and gas wells, a body member adapted to be connected to the upper end of a well casing and having a central passage way and lateral openings commu nicating with said passage, Way, a valve member controlling certain of said lateral openings and said passage way, and ports connecting other of said openings with the pasage way and arranged below the valve to permit steam to be fed into the passage steam to be fed into the central passage Way,

the latter being unobstructed below said valve.

3. In a combined snufi'er and control casing head for oil and gas wells, a body member adapted to be connected to the upperend of a well casing and having a vertical passage way, lateral discharge openings communicating with said passage way and arranged near the upper portion of said body member, a valve for closing the passage way above or below the openings and for closing either opening independently of the other or of the passage way, spaced threaded openings near the lower portion of said body member, and ports connecting said openings with the central passage way and arranged below the valve, the central passage way being unobstructed below said valve.

4. A combined snulfer and control casing .head for oil and gas wells including a body member having a vertical passage way therethrough and adapted to be connected to the upper end of a well casing, a valve near the upper end of the body member for controlling the passage of fluid through the passage way, lateral ports arranged in the body member below the valve and located at opposite sides of the body member, and substantially semi-circular downwardly and 1nwardly directed ports arranged at opposite sides of the body member and placing the lateral ports in communication with the passage way to permit steam to be fed into the passage way.

5. A combined snufl'er and control casing head for oil and gas wells including a body member adapted to be connected to the upper end of a well casing and having a central passage way and a lateral port communicating therewith, a single valve in the body member for closing said passage way above or below the port and for closing the port without obstructing the passage way, spaced elongated substantially semi-circular slots arranged in the body member below the valve, oppositely disposed spaced chambers communicating with said slots, and means to permit steam to be fed through the slots into the central passage way.

6. In a control head, comprising a body member having a central passage therethrough, a lateral port communicating with said passage, a valve member controllingsaid passage and port, fluid chambers formed at the opposite ends of said valve, passages connecting said fluid chambers with the cen tral passage, elongated chambers formed in said ody member below said valve, inclined slots connecting said chambers with the central passage, and threaded openings for said chambers.

7. In a combined control head and snuffer, a body member formed with a vertical central passage, annular bearing surfaces merginginto the inner surface of said central passage, a valve member formed with annular bearings for engaging said bearing surfaces, spaced chambers formed below said bearing surfaces, inclined discharge openings between said chambers and the central passage, threaded openings communicating municating with said valve chamber, a valve having annular bearings for controlling the vertical and lateral passages, spaced fluid chambers formed in said body member at the opposite ends of said valve chamber, ducts connecting said fluid chambers with said central passage, snufl'er chambers arranged below the valve chamber, downwardly inclined ports connecting said snufler chambers with the vertical passage and openings communicating with said chambers,

91 In a control head and snufl'er, a body member formed with a vertical passage having threaded extremities, a valve chamber formed in the vertical passage having one end extending through the wall of the body, lateral passages communicating with lateral passages of the valve chamber, a valve in said valve chamber, a removable plate i having a packing groove adjacent a central passage, an annular flange formed with a central passage engaging within the packing groove, means for locking the valve with relation to the last mentioned member, chambers arranged below the valve chamber, intake ports for said chambers, and discharge ports' for said chambers arranged on the same horizontal plane.

10. In a device of the class described, a body member having a central passage, an enlarged valve chamber in said passage having annular bearing surfaces, annular grooves in said bearing surfaces, a valve in said valve chamber having an inner and outer bearing and two main bearings for engagement with the bearing surfaces formed with said grooves, means for spacing the ends of said valve from the adjacent walls of said casing, ducts for connecting the spaces between the ends of said valve and the adjacent walls with said annular groove and said vertical passage, packing means for the outer bearing, and snufler discharge ports below said valve.

11. In a device of the class described, a body member having a central passage, spaced horizontal passages communicating therewith, a valve for controlling said passages, spaced chambers arranged below said valve, oppositely disposed intake openings for said chambers, and inclined dischar e openings between said chambers and said 1 central passage.

12. In a combined control head and snuffer, a body member formed with a central passage, spaced horizontal passages coinmunicating therewith, a plurality of chambersformed in said body member below said spaced passages, oppositely disposed intake ports for said chambers, and oppositely disposed semi-circular inclined ports between said chambers and'said central passage.

13. A fittin for use in oil well casings, having laterflf discharge passages, snufi'er chambers, intake ,ports for said anufier chambers and means establishing communication between said snuii er chambers and the bore of the fitting in advance of said passages arranged to permit uniform flow gt fluid from said snuifer chambers into said ore.,

14. A combined snufler and control casing head for oil and gas wells including a body member adapted to be connected to the upper end of a well casing and having a central Vertical passage Way extending entirely through the same, upper lateral ports in the body member communicating with said passage Way, a control valve in the passage way arranged to close the passage way either above or below the ports and to close either ports without closing the other port or the central passage way, lower ports arranged in the body member below the valve, oppositely disposed chambers arranged in vthe body member in alignment with the lower ports and each being of a length substantially equal to the diameter of said passage way, and substantially semi-circular ports in the body member placing the chambers in communication with the central passage way.

15. In a combined snufier and control casing head for oil and gas wells, a body member adapted to be connected'to the upper end of a well casing and having a central passageway and lateral openings communicating with said passageway, a valve member controlling said lateral openings and said passageway, and steam inlet ports communicating with said passageway and arranged below the valve to permit steam to be fed into the passageway, the central passageway being unobstructed below said valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PAUL ARBON. 

